Painfull Learning: Hortlund(J) vs. Historiker(A)

[Historiker]

I really don't want to talk about that right now, and especially not here.
I am in a discussion with Hortlund right now via PM about how we are going to play and what we are expecting. Should this fail and we can't find a middle ground, I'll comment on it in length AND will give him the chance to present his side as well.
But talking behind someone's back (in a closed AAR) and telling everyone (as everyone can read this) just my side without any chance for him to comment realy is unacceptable in my book.

[Historiker]

p.s. the Mighty Van Ghent was magnificent!

Absolutly!
I usually "expend" my Dutch DDs in surface combat, as they are too short legged to be of any use in my book. But this one has earned the right to be turned into a memorial! [;)]

[koontz]

[&:] Thoguht the whole duch navy sucked 0[:'(]

Apperntly not!

No nellys or betty to greet the Z force?

[Historiker]

Not that far south.

No navy necessarily sucks. In my WPO PBEM, the Chinese navy with some antique CLs strike fear into the hearts of my opponent [;)]

[koontz]

Just to be clear they are in range from saigon 17 hexes iirc

Nells has 18 and bettys 21.

Guess he didnt except your bold move!

[Historiker]

Sure they are, but I think I've never seen them fly at max range at all.
This move was bold? You should've seen my others... [;)]

I once sneaked a single R-Class BB to Brunei where it found 4CAs in Feb. 42. My opponent wasn't happy about that [:D]
As said: I think this phase as Allied player defenitly is my strong side of this game.


I try to use von Clausewitz's and Sun Zu's principles which work quite fine.

[Teikoku Kaigun]

I think you can get zeros and bettys in Miri by turn two. Mavis painting the area in both phases. Line of subs in front.
The CVL somewhere else.
The 2 Kongos and 4 CA should be together if moving there.
He must of assumed something and got very badly hurt.
Him expecting the worst you would have lost all very likely.
The IJN CAs and DDs fought well and bravely agaist the odds tough.

[Historiker]

They did.

My aggressive moves are easy to counter if you expect them. He didn't, so he suffered.

[Teikoku Kaigun]

BTW, was he covering an invasion or what and if so what did he land with?

[Historiker]

Yes, he landed 170 AV in Sinkawang. The CVL was there for LR-CAP, the the CA seem to have been the surface protection. More than week regarding 3 GB CL, 2BB/BC and 2 Dutch CL within one day steaming range...

[Teikoku Kaigun]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

Yes, he landed 170 AV in Sinkawang. The CVL was there for LR-CAP, the the CA seem to have been the surface protection. More than week regarding 3 GB CL, 2BB/BC and 2 Dutch CL within one day steaming range...

And what units?
How many hexes out was the CVL?
Sorry i dont understand the last sentence? What date is this in the game?

[obvert]

If you're playing two games, you can't behave the same way in both, I feel. This is his biggest mistake.

I know you don't want to talk about the discussion on PH and HRs and such. I will just say my first PBEM opponent did a similar thing, emptying PH on day 2. Turned out not so well though because day 3 had IJN bombers set to Naval/port strikes to find the missing ships. A lot of quick combat ships made it away, but the support ships that were slower did not, and it turned into a bit of a massacre of those. I was quite happy with it.

So there is no real need to talk about history, just make a counter move. If you have the guts to stay for day 2 and your opponent opens the door for more days of attacks, make use of that.

No need to respond, just wanted to share that.

[Historiker]

If you're playing two games, you can't behave the same way in both, I feel. This is his biggest mistake.

THAT is the point! He exactly knew that I read both his and Canoe's AAR. I even asked him whether I am allowed to continue reading his AAR. He said it is fine.

He said I shouldn't react too much on what he did with Canoe, so I didn't send the Subs to the hex where KB usually is, nore did I do any other specific turn one moves that help when you know exactly where which ship is.

But as he knew, it'd be quite easy for him to react. You can leave your regular turn one as it is, all you have to do is change a handfull of TFs. This way, I might have faced a few more cruisers or BBs instead. I even expected him to do so, in fact, I was absolutly sure that he wouldn't do the exact same things which he seems to have done.

But even with my knowledge, there can be no doubt that I would've tried to hit the identified troopships off Skingkawang. I thought they go directly for Palembang, and if my knowledge of his moves did one thing, they even made me more cautios! I knew there'll be at least one carrier, so I hoped to get Force Z out of the way in time. I defenitly didn't plan to do a surface intercept of his carrier. All I wanted to do was strike his troopships and maybe get some warships on the way.
Sending Force Z was a descicion I thought about quite some time and initially, it was planned to go for Soerabaja at first.


Edit:
Also, in his AAR, he said that hunting the allied CVs in the beginning is absolute legit in his book, as the allied player has every chance to get them out of harms way.

[Historiker]

ORIGINAL: Teikoku Kaigun

ORIGINAL: Historiker

Yes, he landed 170 AV in Sinkawang. The CVL was there for LR-CAP, the the CA seem to have been the surface protection. More than weak regarding 3 GB CL, 2BB/BC and 2 Dutch CL within one day steaming range...

And what units?
How many hexes out was the CVL?
Sorry i dont understand the last sentence? What date is this in the game?

---------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Singkawang (56,88)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 800 troops, 5 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 31

Defending force 5982 troops, 72 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 190



Assaulting units:
West Borneo KNIL Battalion
Singkawang Base Force

Defending units:
III./143rd Infantry Battalion
I./143rd Infantry Battalion
II./143rd Infantry Battalion
91st Naval Guard Unit
32nd Field AA Battalion
7th Field AF Construction Battalion
24th JAAF AF Bn
---------------------------------------------------------


There was a typo. Not "week" but "weak",
I think his forces were way to weak regarding the fact how many forces are in range to strike the taskforce within one day. My orders to intercept were given on turn two.

[Teikoku Kaigun]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

ORIGINAL: Teikoku Kaigun

ORIGINAL: Historiker

Yes, he landed 170 AV in Sinkawang. The CVL was there for LR-CAP, the the CA seem to have been the surface protection. More than weak regarding 3 GB CL, 2BB/BC and 2 Dutch CL within one day steaming range...

And what units?
How many hexes out was the CVL?
Sorry i dont understand the last sentence? What date is this in the game?

---------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Singkawang (56,88)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 800 troops, 5 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 31

Defending force 5982 troops, 72 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 190



Assaulting units:
West Borneo KNIL Battalion
Singkawang Base Force

Defending units:
III./143rd Infantry Battalion
I./143rd Infantry Battalion
II./143rd Infantry Battalion
91st Naval Guard Unit
32nd Field AA Battalion
7th Field AF Construction Battalion
24th JAAF AF Bn
---------------------------------------------------------


There was a typo. Not "week" but "weak",
I think his forces were way to weak regarding the fact how many forces are in range to strike the taskforce within one day.

Oh, now i understand, i have them also but this just confused me[:D]

And i agree, i suppose your hitting him again?
He must be unloading still, its a size 1 port? He has lots of troops and supply and he lost his surface cover and LRCAP. Or does he have Kuching? Shore bombard with the heavies after that and send some troops? [;)]
I shouldnt say these things, it hurts to see the Empire bleed, i will get bad karma.[:D]

[Historiker]

Sure. I get stronger every day in this region. In the next two to three weeks, I will have two CVs and one CVL there, about 8 additional CLs, about 10 CAs and then, the british BBs will start coming...

Also, all planes in the DEI are set for Naval attack training and together with the carriers, he might get a few more surprises...

[Teikoku Kaigun]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

Sure. I get stronger every day in this region. In the next two to three weeks, I will have two CVs and one CVL there, about 8 additional CLs, about 10 CAs and then, the british BBs will start coming...

Also, all planes in the DEI are set for Naval attack training and together with the carriers, he might get a few more surprises...

But to make him slow down you have to commit your forces now, he is in inbalance for a short period of time, days.

[Historiker]

Don't worry [;)]

I think I have 7CL, 1CA, 1BB, 1BC and 2AMCs in range. And, of course, I will use them [:)]

[Teikoku Kaigun]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

Don't worry [;)]

I think I have 7CL, 1CA, 1BB, 1BC and 2AMCs in range. And, of course, I will use them [:)]

I dont know the allied sides troops from memory but you can have naval and land battle here if you have troops.
You have a good port in Pontian to keep them supplied and reinforced IF you can land in Singkavan to contest it first.
The Dutch subs are evil and he has to escort heavily everything he moves there to reinforce.
The loss of the CVL, CAs and DDs is major thing here.
I understood that he doesnt have anything else in Northern Bornea but Singkavan?
You have your B17s to pound "safely" airfields in Northern Borneo.
Ofcourse he will haves his way but here is a place for attrition of his naval and air assets with units you will loose anyways.
Maybe im missing something, im not an expert but i would hate be in this position as a Jap opponent.

[Historiker]

It is only turn two, so he has almost nothing, yet.
I wil plaster the field daily and don't forget, I have reliable US torpedoes! [:D]